Truss



(No Model.)

W.,ELSTUN.

TRUSS.

Patnted NovQZQ, 1887.

Wit/wooo@ @Hom/mil.

N, Pneus. rhowumagmpher. wnsmngm-t-Q UN-TED STATES PATENT Ori-TCE WILLIAM ELSTUN, OF THOMPSONVILLE, 4ILLINOIS.

TRUSS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373.927, dated November 29, 1887.

Application ilcd July 20, 1887.

will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an trusses.

The object is to provide a supporting-bar which shall be capable of a ready-adjustment, and Which will keep its position perfectly on the body under all forced movements ot' the muscles, which will afford an extended bearing for the padsupporting studs and clips, and which will presentrounded edges toward the body.

A further object is to provide a spring in connection with the pads and their supportingstuds which will admit of a free yielding movement of the pads and at thesame time prevent the disagreeable grating sound so common to many of the trusses in common use. v

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the truss in-perspective. Fig. 2 is a partial `horizontal section through the axes of the padsupporting studs and the spring; and Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken transversely through the supporting-bar, stud, spring, and pad.

A represents the supporting bar. made of the best spring-steel,`is dat, and has its upper and lower edges rounded, as shown. It is preferably formed byA rolling out a round rod of steel, therebygiving the rod two opposite flat faces. It is intended that the rod shall be rolled to such a thickness as to cause it to retain the necessary amount of spring force to hold itself in position on the body after being sprung thereon and yet not have unnecessary weight nor be so stiff as to prevent the free action of the body-muscles. Its Bat faces at the front a are about parallel with the surface of the body opposite which it is intended to be placed, while over the hips, as at a', its upper improvement in It is Serial No. 245,614. (No model.)

edge is turned slightly inward, and at its ends a2, which rest against the back, its lower edge is slightly advanced toward the body, which slight twist, taken in connection with t-heedgewise curve ofthe bar over t-he hips, serves to prevent1 any tendency to displacen1ent,whether the ends be connected by a strap or not. The bar is covered with a soft-leather sheath, B, extending from the extremities of its ends to points near the padsupporting studs at the front.

C represents thepad-supporting studs, pro- A ing-bar, and of sufficient diameter to'freely admit the upset end of the pad-supporting stud and at the same time allow the pad the desired amount of lateral tilting or rocking movement to render it easy under the various movements of the body.

The back plate, D, above referred to, is a thin metallic plate and covers the mouth of the recess e. It is provided with a perforation, d, through which the shank of the stud Cloosely passes, and is preferably, though not necessarily, provided with rounded raised portion d, immediately aroundthe perforation d, to form a bearing for the free end of the spring F, as will hereinafter appear.

The pads E are held in normal adjustment at the limit of their movement away from the supporting-bar by means of a dat bow-shaped spring, F, which is secured centrally to the supporting-bar, midway between the pads, by a clip, G, provided with a set-screw, g. lIhe clip is of the ordinary form employed in securing the stud-heads to the supporting-bar, and similar clips are herein shown in connection with the pad-supporting studs to secure them tothe supporting-bar.

The free ends of the spring F are provided with elongated slots f, adapted to loosely receive the Shanks of the studs C. The slots f ICO maybe closed, as shown, in which case the stud would be passed through before having its end upset; or the slot might be formed open at the end and the spring adjusted after the Studs are in place.

Vhen the back plates, D, are provided with the rounded raised portions d', the ends of the spring which rest thereon are made slightly concave in cross-section` as shown, the concave face of the spring being arranged to rest in contact with the convex face ot the raised portion d', whereby the pad is allowed an easy rocking movement under the tension of the spring. The elongated slot f admits of the adjustment of the pad supporting stud at different points along the supporting-bar to suit the requirements of different cases. The eX- treme ends of the spring are rolled back, as shown at j", to prevent it from chatng the clothing. As thus constructed, the pad is allowed a uniform yielding motion free from the catching and grating sound which at times is found to be annoying in cases where the wellknown spiral spring is employed.

It is evident that other means than upset ting the end of the stud C might be resorted to to secure it in the recess below the back porting-bar, the pad, and means for securing ing sliding adjustments toward and away from the bar, of a single spring secured to the bar between the pads, and having its free ends in contact with the backs of the pads, substantially as set forth.

3. In a truss, the combinatiomwith the supporting-har` pad, and padsupporting stud clipped to the bar, ofa flat spring clipped to the bar at one side of the stud, the free end of the spring being provided with an elongated slot adapted to embrace the shank of the stud, whereby the pad may be adjusted lengthwise of the supporting-bar without disturbing the spring, substantially' as set forth.

4. ln a truss, the combination.with the supporting'bar, pad, and pad-supportingstud, the pad being provided with a rounded raised portion around the pad-supportingstud,ofa platespring clipped to the bar, its free end being slotted to receive the shank of the stud and made concave to conform to the raised portion on the pad, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. ELSTUN.

Vitnesses:

E. C. SEWARD, H. E. PECK. 

